NATURAL RESOURCE GOVERNANCE AND THE RIGHTS OF RESOURCE-BEARING COMMUNITIES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The concept of resource governance refers to the processes and structures that determine how power and responsibilities over natural resources are exercised, and how citizens - women, men, indigenous peoples and local communities - participate in, and benefit from the management of natural resources. The concept is underpinned by the need for government and decision-makers as resource-trustees to manage natural resources in a socially just and environmentally sustainable manner. This entails fairness and inclusiveness in the management and distribution of the extractive energy eco-system for the benefits all. A properly structured resource governance framework is beneficial to both the people and biodiversity. Unfortunately, this concept is honoured more in breach than in observance in Nigeria. Until recently, most resource-bearing communities where natural resources are exploited in Nigeria have no real say in the exploitation and management of the resources in their locality. If anything, they are usually left to grapple with environmental and health hazards occasioned by the activities of resource-exploiting companies. As a result, the Nigerian natural resource sector has been plagued by conflicts, kidnapping and militancy in the resource-bearing communities, highlighting the need to re-examine effective resource governance and conflict resolution mechanisms.  Perhaps, in response to this call, the Nigerian national government created the legal framework for some of form of host community participation both in the petroleum and mining sectors of the extractive industry. This paper examines these participations frameworks, evaluate how they could affect the key aspects community expectations.